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University of Illinois Extension reports hires, volunteer growth and expanded ag programming to Tazewell County board
Summary
The county extension director briefed the board on staffing, volunteer networks and renewed local agricultural programming, including two recent ag hires and community partnerships.
Earl Allen, Tazewell County Extension director for University of Illinois Extension, gave the county board an overview of the unit’s annual report, highlighting staff, volunteers and program activity.
"All of our staff are committed to serving local people and local communities," Allen said as he described outreach across 4-H, Master Gardeners and SNAP-Ed nutrition programs. He highlighted two recent hires in agricultural outreach: Kevin Brooks for farm management and Tara Heath as a crops educator, and said those positions helped rebuild local agricultural programming after a reorganization.
Allen reviewed specific initiatives: 4-H activities and horse clinics, SNAP-Ed chef schools returning to the town of Manito, partnerships with ICC for a landowner conference and participation at the Greater Peoria Farm Show. He noted more than 300 volunteers across the unit support extension programming and said the office highlighted Beacon First Church of God as a community partner on a page of the report.
Allen also described three new staff coordinators in the spring: a SNAP-Ed coordinator from Lewiston, a horticulture coordinator and a master-gardener coordinator based in Pekin. The unit is managing retirements and has three open positions it is working to fill.
The presentation was informational; the transcript records no formal board action tied to the extension report.
